Lan Lan was tempted by Zhou Yu's proposal, but she hadn't forgotten Liang Yufeng's warning. Zhou Yu had lost the power struggle to Liang Yufeng and was currently inferior in influence. If Liang Yufeng were to go mad and attack him, wouldn't she be implicating an innocent person?
Zhou Yu, however, was unconcerned. "I'm not afraid."
Lan Lan: "Hm?"
Zhou Yu said, "My father is a proud man. If he were to truly punish me for something like this, it wouldn't end well for him."
This explanation made sense. Lan Lan hadn't come from a wealthy background, but after years of navigating the social circles, she understood the nature of powerful families. Even with a brood of illegitimate children, they maintained a facade of peace, never allowing anything to damage the patriarch's reputation. Liang Yufeng's father was likely of the same mindset.
With this matter settled, Lan Lan had no further worries. She immediately agreed to Zhou Yu's proposal and decided to explore a relationship with him. Zhou Yu said, "Then, will you accompany me to the party this weekend?"
Lan Lan happily agreed. With Zhou Yu as her "protective charm," she no longer had to fear Liang Yufeng. She was eager to resolve their entanglement, to stop being bothered by him constantly.
On Saturday, Lin Mei woke up early. She and Xing Zheng took Jing Chu and Jiaozi to the park. Xing Zheng pushed the stroller, while Lin Mei held Jiaozi's hand. They played for over two hours before returning home, just in time to meet Lan Lan and Feng Feng, who had come to visit.
Lan Lan doted on Jing Chu. After learning how to hold a baby, she would always pick him up upon meeting. Consequently, Jing Chu was very fond of her. As soon as he saw her, he giggled and babbled to her.
Having been energized for two hours, Jing Chu was tired. Lin Mei took him upstairs to feed him. Lan Lan and Feng Feng followed. Soon, Jing Chu fell asleep, and the three women began chatting in the bedroom.
Lan Lan stood by the crib, watching the sleeping Jing Chu. "My godson is so cute. His little face, I just want to kiss him to death."
Lin Mei laughed. "Are you going to have one too?"
"That's a no for now. I don't even have a man. Am I supposed to conjure one from a rock?" Lan Lan said.
"Liang Yufeng would be heartbroken to hear that," Lin Mei teased, unaware that her words had struck a nerve with Lan Lan.
Lan Lan didn't get angry with Lin Mei. She simply told her, "Liang Yufeng and I will be finished soon." Her tone was excited, as if she were eagerly anticipating that moment.
Lin Mei became curious. Liang Yufeng was so persistent about Lan Lan; how could he give up so easily?
"Are you so sure?" Lin Mei asked, curious. "How did you offend him?"
Lan Lan explained her plan with Zhou Yu. Feng Feng had been informed a few days prior, so she wasn't surprised. Lin Mei, however, frowned. "Isn't that inappropriate?"
Although she hadn't asked about Liang Yufeng's family disputes, how could an illegitimate son and the legitimate son coexist harmoniously? Moreover, Liang Yufeng had indeed supplanted Zhou Yu to gain his position.
"It's not very ethical, but I have no choice," Lan Lan said. "Everyone at the company is saying I'm climbing the ladder by relying on men. Because of Liang Yufeng, all my past efforts have been negated. And he refuses to break up with me. I'm at my wit's end, I just want to disgust him."
"But Zhou Yu's intentions in approaching you are probably not pure," Lin Mei reminded her. "Don't get accidentally caught up in their family feuds; it won't be worth the trouble."
"That won't happen," Lan Lan said. "If Zhou Yu tries to scheme against me, I'll just dump him."
At that moment, Xing Zheng was standing outside the bedroom door. He had heard every word of the conversation inside. He had been there since Lan Lan uttered the phrase, "Liang Yufeng and I will be finished soon."
After hearing Lan Lan's plan, Xing Zheng went downstairs and called Liang Yufeng. "Lan Lan is at my place."
Liang Yufeng responded with an "Oh," followed by, "And then?" His unhurried tone suggested he was unaware of what Lan Lan had been doing behind his back. Xing Zheng then recounted the events of the past hour.
A long silence followed on the other end of the line. Finally, Liang Yufeng said, "Thank you."
Before Xing Zheng could respond, Liang Yufeng hung up. Without a doubt, Xing Zheng knew how furious he must be at that moment.
Xing Zheng hadn't been well-acquainted with Liang Yufeng during their university days. Although they were classmates and roommates, Xing Zheng had been seriously ill, reclusive, and solitary, not interacting much with those around him. He only knew about Liang Yufeng and Lan Lan's relationship through hearsay.
Lan Lan had been a prominent figure in their department during university. She was beautiful and fiery, pursued by countless men. When Liang Yufeng was dating her, Xing Zheng often overheard others teasing him. Not long after, they broke up. Xing Zheng remembered Liang Yufeng having a fever for nearly a week. Years later, when they reconnected, Liang Yufeng became entangled with Lan Lan again. Although Liang Yufeng had never spoken of his feelings for Lan Lan, Xing Zheng could see that he was still deeply infatuated, harboring his emotions secretly.
However, Lan Lan didn't feel the same way. Xing Zheng couldn't help but feel fortunate that Lin Mei liked him. Otherwise, he might have suffered an even more tragic fate than Liang Yufeng.
Lan Lan had lunch at Zhu Hua Villa. Afterward, she went back to get ready. She had an event to attend with Zhou Yu that evening and couldn't afford to lose face. Lan Lan frequently attended such functions, and her walk-in closet had a wardrobe dedicated solely to evening gowns. She chose a dark green, low-cut dress and had it ironed and hung up.
After spending several hours getting ready, Zhou Yu arrived to pick her up. Zhou Yu's eyes widened with admiration. He embraced her, praising her without reservation, "You look stunning."
It was no wonder Liang Yufeng had been so念念不忘 (niànniàn bù wàng - unable to forget) her for so many years. Such an exceptional woman was likely irresistible to most men.
"How is it? Am I embarrassing you?" Lan Lan asked.
"Far from it," Zhou Yu replied. "When you appear, all the men in the room will be jealous of me."
Lan Lan laughed. Zhou Yu's words were so flattering. She heard them, smiled, and then forgot them, dismissing them as mere pleasantries for the occasion.
Lan Lan didn't know the specifics of the evening's event until they were in the car. Zhou Yu then introduced it as a charity auction. "If there's anything you fancy, I'll buy it for you."
"Okay, thank you in advance." Lan Lan didn't act coy. As she smiled brightly, Zhou Yu suddenly said, "I forgot to tell you, he will also be here tonight."
"Oh, alright." Lan Lan was remarkably calm, showing no surprise.
Zhou Yu couldn't help but be curious. "You don't seem surprised at all."
"There's nothing to be surprised about," Lan Lan said. "I guessed as much."
"You're smarter than I thought," Zhou Yu commented.
Lan Lan retorted, "Then you must have thought I was too stupid."
Zhou Yu had approached her precisely to provoke Liang Yufeng. Why else would he invite her to an event where Liang Yufeng would be present? She had anticipated this, which was why she had dressed so elaborately. If people in their circle saw her, Liang Yufeng's reputation would be tarnished. And given Zhou Yu's status, he couldn't openly retaliate.
Perhaps feeling thoroughly exploited by Liang Yufeng, the thought of him being put in an awkward position made Lan Lan smile.
The car stopped in front of the hotel. Lan Lan linked her arm with Zhou Yu's, causing the surrounding media to whisper amongst themselves.